Smoking pipe



Aug. 29, 1944. o. ILTIURINSKY SMOKING PIPE Filed Oct 9, 1941 Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,357,239 SMOKING PIPE Otto'Turinsky, Palatine, Ill. Application October 9, 1941, Serial No. 414,246 v S Claims'. c1. 131 227) user happens to bite on it with considerable force.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stem according to the invention indicated as part of a complete pipe which may include the inventions of my earlier patents, 2,230,872 of February 4, 1941, and 2,242,805 of May 20, 1941;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the metal insert;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 1;

a and Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the bit end of the stem of Figural.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration the conventional bowl Ii] carries the conventional lateral shank l2 which is illustrated as quite short and which is detachably connected, as by the joint construction of my Patent 2,242,805, with the stem assembly indicated as a whole by the reference character [4. The stem illustrated has a uniform taper but is tapered just a'trifie more in elevation as seen in Figure 1 than in plan view as seen in Figure 5, so thatthe section :at 3-3 has'greater horizontal than vertical dimensionsas clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The entire stem assembly, except for the metallic insert illustrated in Figure 2, is a single integral one piece body of relatively soft plastic material. One suitable material for such uses is known to the trade as vinylite and is a polymerization product of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. However, other chemical compositions are known from which such plastic bodies may be formed.

The stem body has a thin wall defining a cooling and condensation chamber IS. The metallic insert I8 is a combined reinforcement and condensation trap in the sense that its inwardly projecting reach 22 projects into the chamber 16 far enough so that a substantial amount of condensed liquid may accumulate inside the stem without finding its way through the insert and into the users mouth. In customary use, after the user has smoked a half dozen pipefuls, he separates the bowl and stem and flirts the accumulated liquid out of the stem and then replaces the parts.

plastic beyond its limit of endurance.

Beyond the trap portion 20 the insert includes the central shank 22, the .annular stop flange 24, and two prongs 2B. The external surfaces of all these parts lie in close contact with :the plastic material of the stem. The prongs are first formed, as indicated in Figure 2, by re moving portions of the tube, as with a slotting tool to define opposed slotsat '28 and 30. After the formation of the slots, and in a single die-'- forming operation, if desired, the remainder of the tube may be partly collapsed to change the The prongs 26 may bespread apart before insertion to substantially the configuration they have in the finished assembly as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Then the insert is pushed in forcibly from the right hand end of the bit as seen :in

Figure 5, having a fairly tight frictionfit along the central reach 22. This pushing movement is continued until the flange 2'4 abuts the slight shoulder previously formed in the plasticfor that purpose. During this insertion, the portion of the bit to the right of the flange 24 is forced to yield into an approximately-circular shape, but

with parts of the proportions indicated in thedrawing, this can be done without distorting the After the flange has passed on in, the contact between the prongs 26 and the plastic body Will assist the bit portion of the plastic in assuming its original and final shape. And if the prongs :26 have been bent slightly inward toward each other during insertion, or were originally formed before insertion in a slightly less divergent condition than the final condition illustrated in Figure 5, a tapered tool shaped to fit the interior of the final passage can be pushed into the bit end of the assembly to expand the prongs to the final position of Figure 5.

In the final assembly, and with particular reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the portion of each prong adjacent the bight 32 is of very great structural strength, and vertical compression exerted by the teeth of the user is never sufficient to collapse the top of the bit and reduce the cross section of the remaining passage sufiiciently to impair the utility of the device. One construction substantially according to the drawing has been tested for experimental puring was adequate for practical use of the device in smoking.

It is possible to make plastic stems of substantially the shape shown in the drawing that have enough structural strength in the plastic material itself to resist the pressure of the teeth of the user, but such compositions have an external surface that is usually substantially as hard as" hard rubber and is slightly uncomfortable in its contact with the users teeth. And an occasional tightening of the users teeth is likely to chip or crack the material slightly, especially at the outer surface, so that after a few months of use the outside of the bit is chewed up and unsightly.

The material employed according to the present invention is capable of plastic yielding in the nature of surface deformation at the point where the teeth of the user impinge on it to a sulficient degree so that the teeth can be imbedded in the material deeply enough to hold the pipe comfortably firm and still not chip or abrade either the bit or the enamel of the teeth.

. It is also possible to form stem bodies as illustrated in the drawing, of plastic having the optimum degree of softness at the surface where the teeth of the user engage the bit, but such stems have two disadvantages: first, a strong bite is apt to result in permanent deformation at the tip of the bit sufficient to restrict the smoke passage and interfere With the draw; and second, the flexibility of the stem from one end to the other acting as a beam is such that the entire stem tends to assume a slightly curved config- Iclaim:

1. A bit for smokers comprising, in combination: a tubular body capable of slight plastic yielding under the bite of the user's teeth and substantially incapable of resisting collapse at the point of bit; and a metallic reinforcement inside the body at the point of bite; said reinforcement comprising metal members of U- shaped cross section, with substantially plane sururation which is unsightly and distasteful to the A user. By the use of the reinforcement disclosed, the beam strength of the bit against flexure is very high up to the inner end of the reach 22, and the vertical dimensions and enlarged cross section from that point on are sufiicient to substantially eliminate any undesirable bending of the stem as a whole. And the reinforcement of the inner wall of the passage by the prongs 26 effectively eliminates any danger of collapsing the tip of the bit.

. The plastic material forming the body of the bit is preferably, but not necessarily, transparent. In Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing I have indicated the transparent material by showing the metal insert in full lines.

The insert is of metal chemically inert to the action of the smoke and condensation products.

faces along the outer legs of each U; said plane surfaces being arranged to present relatively large flat metal thrust areas facing in both directions to receive the force-of the bite and prevent collapse of the body.

2. A bit according to claim 1 in which said members are spaced apart in the direction of the plane of the metal thrust areas, thereby defining a central passage of maximum height, spanned at the top and bottom by straight reaches of plasticwall, which plastic Wall is supported "at both ends by said metal thrust areas.

3. A bit according to claim 1 in which a circular metal tube extends axially along said bit beyond the point of bite; said members of U- shaped cross section being integral prongs projecting from one end of said tube.

4. A bit for smokers comprising, in combination: a tubular body capable of slight plastic yielding under the bite of the users teeth and substantially incapable of resisting collapse at the point of bite; and a metallic reinforcement inside the body at the point of bite; said reinforcement comprising metal members of U-shaped cross section; the legs of each U section presenting thrust areas facing in opposite directions to receive the force of the bite and prevent collapse of the body.

5. A bit according to claim 4 in which a circular metal tube extends axially along said bit beyond the point of bite; said members of U- shaped cross section being integral prongs projecting from the end of said tube.

OTTO TURINSKY. 

